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slakr007's comments:
on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
@ scottmil
Oh man, vaccinations... Those parents have no idea what they are doing. If vaccinations only affected their own child, then that would be comparable to this case.
However, refusing vaccinations is a public health disaster waiting to happen.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Unlike The Flying Spaghetti Monster, my topiary plant is a real tangible thing that makes my office a more pleasant place. So, there.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
"Cult church"? That's kind of redundant.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Repeating my post from above...
Letting alone the actual and perceived issues with hospitals, hospitals are not the only places that provide medical treatment.
And, yes, there are actual issues with hospitals. A hospital in Florida almost killed my girlfriend's father with an overdose of blood thinners. However, if he had not gone to the hospital, he would have certainly died.
And to add to it... Should we have just let him die because Western medicine should not be our religion?
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Letting alone the actual and perceived issues with hospitals, hospitals are not the only places that provide medical treatment.
And, yes, there are actual issues with hospitals. A hospital in Florida almost killed my girlfriend's father with an overdose of blood thinners. However, if he had not gone to the hospital, he would have certainly died.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
@ DamosA
She is not entirely wrong. There is good research showing that keeping your spirits up, remaining hopeful, and having solid emotional support helps...if even a little.
However, that is completely irrelevant to this discussion since it assumes you are seeking medical attention. Also, religion is not the only way to keep your spirits up, so this research does not dismiss the vitriol against religion.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
"God's plan" is always the catch all.
To summarize the Worthington's:
"This works because we have seen it work. When it doesn't work, it was God's plan."
Rationalizations like that are like nails on a chalkboard to me.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Yes, I have.
What I am wrestling with is the slippery slope of making laws where religion is involved. If we are going to talk about freedom of religion, where do you draw the line at child abuse?
If it is illegal to not seek medical attention for your child because of faith, then should it not be illegal to rear your child in such a church? If the child knows nothing but faith healing and dies later, are the parents responsible? If they are, should it be illegal to rear your child in a church at all?
And, as far as I can see, the cause of death is really up in the air.
If she did of a fast-acting blood infection, then I'm not sure that makes them guilty under the law. However, I do feel that they would have eventually broken the law. But, you cannot prosecute someone for something they will do.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Surely, no naturopath has made a poor diagnosis that has lead to a death.
As far as going to court if faith had not been involved... I am new to Oregon, but I know the parents would have been railroaded through the courts if they were poor and did not have faith as an excuse.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
This is the rathole my mind is currently grappling with. I despise what they did to their child, but...
As you say, what is the difference between not seeking medical treatment for you child and rearing your child in a church that believes in not seeking medical treatment?
So, if you say it is illegal to follow that aspect of your religion, shouldn't it then be illegal to indoctrinate your child in that religion?
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
There is a huge difference between keeping hope alive, keeping your spirits up, etc., and just flat out refusing to seek medical attention because your church says not to.
"Spiritual well being" should not be confused with religion.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Yes! Life expectancy and quality of life were so much better before advances in research-based medical science ruined it all.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Yeah, I almost choked on my breakfast when I heard the juror explain their reasoning. Amazing. I guess the Worthington's received a jury of their peers.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Oh, one other thing... I want to invite people to join my new Church of the Holy Topiary.
Whenever I have a cold, a stiff neck, a hang nail, or even food poisoning, I pray to my Topiary and, eventually, I am healed!
I know some skeptics out there might ask: "And if someone dies after devoutly praying to your Topiary? What then?" The answer is simple: "The Topiary has a plan for everyone. The Topiary's plan for you might not always be clear, but you must have faith that the Topiary loves you."
My church accepts anyone. Just remember to tithe. 8%. The Topiary is not greedy.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
I will probably be kicking myself for asking, but...
I hear all the time that God knows all, God loves you, God has a plan. OK. Then why pray? Why do anything? Why go to school? Why pay bills?
I mean, if it is acceptable to not take your child to the doctor, why do anything else?
I'll bet they did some baby-proofing in the house. Why bother? God has a plan. If she died from drinking liquid laundry detergent, oh well...that was God's plan.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
I have to admit... I am still torn about this. On one hand, I think a line has to be drawn somewhere between religious freedom and child abuse. On the other hand, it is extremely dangerous work to draw such a line and I am not sure they really did cross it.
I am not even reasonably satisfied that they broke the Oregon law. I am reasonably satisfied that they would have broken the Oregon law in the long run, but you cannot prosecute someone for something they have not done.
I can say one thing for sure though, I would rather be dead than reared by those two in that church.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Worthington Trial: The Verdict Is In
Well, at least they know now it was God's plan for them to go to jail. I'm sure they will not appeal. It would be rude to question God.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Is Obama-Mania Over?
His example may have been off base.
However, I write software for the medical industry.
If insurance companies decide they are going to reimburse for something, we have customers asking for features to support that test the very next day.
Reimbursement is a huge motivator, not to everyone, but it drives everything overall. On average, you can guarantee that, if a doctor can be reimbursed for something, he/she will do it.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Is Obama-Mania Over?
Funny you should mention cancer screening.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/health/17screening.html?_r=2&scp=5&sq=cancer&st=cse
For all of the women breast cancer detection may have been responsible for saving, how much did it really cost us and how much did it really benefit us?
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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on Is Obama-Mania Over?
Funny thing about Medicare... People like it.
posted 3 years, 10 months ago
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